Vacationing with my Ostomy

I admit, I was a bit nervous about the whole Ostomy on Vacation thing.  Before we left, there was a great deal of pondering about how many supplies to bring.  I read a rumor that the pouch would puff up on the plane (false, guys, false, even the pouches with no filter).  I worried that some J-hole would make a big deal at one of the airports. 

Overall, I was very glad to have an ostomy.  No one hassled me at any of the airports.  Completely unwrap and "test" the statue Eric bought?  Yes.  Not one person wanted a peek at the pouch.  They were more concerned with why I had two DVD players.  I emptied before I went through security and again before I got on a plane (as needed).  I had extra supplies (no scissors of course).  It was easy.

In Cambodia, it was no big deal.  The only time anyone even saw it was during a massage, and the woman's main concern was whether it hurt.  Again, I carried extra supplies with me.  Towards the end of the trip, we all got some sort of intestinal thing.  It was super nice not to be tied to a toilet.  Ostomy pouches are so portable!  As long as I could find a bathroom to empty, it was all good.

As far as how many supplies to bring on a trip...I read somewhere to bring three times the amount I would normally need.  That amount of supplies was WAY too much, but I wouldn't have wanted to run short on anything.  I was glad I had plenty of pouches and wafers.

So if you're considering a vacation, don't let an ostomy hold you back!  Vacations rule!!!

Don't miss out on seeing cool stuff like this!!!!  :)

It's a Monkey Kind of Day!

The kids asked to see monkey pictures from our trip today.  I thought I would share!

We are feeding the monkeys lotus seeds.  People can eat them too, and they don't taste too bad (the lotus seeds, of course, not the monkeys).

A monkey nursing a baby monkey!  Awwwwwwww.

The little buggers climbed right into the tuktuk!  We were surrounded!

Goodbye, Monkeys!!!  Thanks for not giving us some weird monkey disease!

Gosh, you guys

I get choked up when I realize how many people are paying attention and how many people are praying.  I do have a ct scan coming up next week.  It was originally supposed to be this week, but got moved.  I'm enjoying the extra week off.  :)

I wish the real world would just stop hasslin' me

We've only been back for a few days and I'm already tired of dealing with schedules and trying to arrange child care and trying to call and get answers and having to talk to voicemail (and never getting a call back...). 

Sigh.  Breathe.  Breathe.

It's probably not all as big a deal as it is in my head.  I didn't expect to go from relaxed to stressed out right away.  I was going to be chill, not worry.  Time to put that into practice, right?  It appears I have another free week.  Awesome!  The kids and I can get homeschool back on track after being in vacation mode for about a month.  I have a fun sewing project that I would like to get done sooner rather than later.  Maybe I'll cook some delicious food.  I'm still pondering how to organize a way to share pics from our trip.  The weather is going to be nice.  There are tons of good things about another week off.

Okay, I'm still a little irritated.  So here's some Cambodia pictures!



Minature Carving of Angkor Wat

My favorite dish, and pretty much all I ate in Cambodia, fried noodles with vegetables

Our tuktuk driver gave me a cooking lesson so I could learn how to make...fried noodles!  This is his kitchen.

:)

Welcome Home!!

I think if my little cat Oliver had the means and supplies, she would have created that banner.  Usually when we leave, there's a period of great cat anger when we return, but I guess being gone for 22 days and sending in a stranger helps with that.

Yes, yes, we are home!!  I will get my life together and post about the trip as soon as I can.  Thank you for positive thoughts and prayers!!